ABC News reporterElizabeth Vargashas publically opened up about her struggle with alcohol addiction."It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit that to my family," Vargas toldGeorge Stephanopoulosin an interview ...

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ABC News reporter Elizabeth Vargas has publically opened up about her struggle with alcohol addiction.

"It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit that to my family," Vargas told George Stephanopoulos in an interview which aired Fridayon Good Morning America. "The amount of energy I expended keeping that secret and keeping this problem hidden from view, hidden from my family, hidden from friends, from colleagues was exhausting."

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Vargas explained that she's suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks since she was six. "I dealt with that anxiety and with the stress that anxiety brought by starting to drink. And it slowly escalated and got worse and worse. And I remember a few years ago I began to think, do I have a problem with this?" she said.

The 20/20 anchor then went into detail about the struggle to accept her addiction, even once confronted by her husband. "Denial is huge for any alcoholic, especially for any functioning alcoholic, because I'm not living under a bridge. I haven't been arrested," Vargas said.

Vargas eventually checked into a rehabilitation facility that specializes in trauma in November. "This isn't what I want to be known for, but I'm really proud of what I did," Vargas said.

Watch her full interview below.

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